Early Career Training Programme (ECTP)
Fully funded. Rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Give your new teachers the training and support they need to thrive – and help every pupil reach their potential.
Teach First – your trusted training provider
Set for success. With over 20 years’ experience supporting teachers across England, we’re proud to continue in September 2025 as an official provider of the Early Career Training Programme (ECTP).
The programme is delivered through our network of trusted local delivery partners - ensuring expert support tailored to your region and school context.
By equipping new teachers with the skills and confidence to thrive, our ECTP lays the foundation for lasting impact and supporting young people in the most disadvantaged communities.
Programme at a glance
Start: September 2025
Location: Delivered locally across England
Who: Early career teachers and their mentors
Length: 2 years
Cost: Fully funded by the DfE
Ofsted: Rated Outstanding in all areas
Delivery: Blended online and in-person learning
What sets our training apart
Ofsted outstanding
Two-year training and support, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas.
Subject specific
The first provider to offer subject-specific training in year two, with content covering 25+ phases and subjects.
Tailored approach
Training adapts to each ECT’s needs, with optional modules in SEND and leadership development.
Prioritises wellbeing
Created to support workload and wellbeing, with a flexible, blended learning model.
Why schools choose our ECTP
A flexible, evidence-led programme that delivers practical support and long-term impact – for teachers and schools alike.
For your school and mentors
Strengthening your school through high-quality support.
- Fully funded and Ofsted-rated outstanding
- A one-year comprehensive training and support programme for mentors
- School-led approach: our programme is created by our in-house experts working with school trusts
For early career teachers
A structured two-year journey that promotes confidence, subject expertise and retention.
- Training tailored to their subject and phase (across 25 areas, including SEND)
- Weekly mentor support
- Flexible delivery: online and face-to-face learning
- Optional modules: offering flexibility based on school setting or leadership ambitions
- New for 2025: diagnostic tool personalising learning to meet each teacher’s needs.
Ready to bring this high-impact programme to your school?
Teach First helps make sure the Early Career Training Programme resources fit our school model. This gets the best out of our staff in our own school contexts and builds a sense of community.
How the programme is delivered
Our ECTP is delivered through our network of trusted delivery partners, ensuring high-quality support and training tailored to local contexts.
The programme uses a blended approach combining online study, expert-led seminars, and mentoring to help ECTs apply theory in the classroom.
- Year one: Build strong foundations
Six research-led modules covering:
- Creating a positive learning environment
- Understanding how pupils learn
- What makes an effective curriculum
- Using assessment and feedback effectively
- Meeting the needs of all learners
- Optional: Excellent teaching in specialist schools
Includes self-directed study, expert guidance, in-person induction and live seminars.
- Year two: Grow expertise and independence
Building on year one, year two focuses on phase- and subject-specific content. This targeted development has been shown to improve pupil outcomes.
ECTs will explore:
- Developing pupils’ intrinsic motivation
- Anticipating and addressing common misconceptions
- Building subject-specific skills
- Supporting literacy through structured talk
- Using meaningful and memorable explanations
- Designing a coherent curriculum
- Optional: Leadership development module
By the end of the programme, ECTs are more confident, skilled and ready to thrive in the classroom.
Hear from teachers, mentors and school leaders
The best thing about the programme is how thorough and engaging it is. Every in-person and online seminar is so well thought out and I always feel like I've gained so much from each session.
– Early career teacher, 2023 cohort
Teach First’s core vision is about making sure we have the very best teachers and leaders in the school communities which need them most. This is something we feel equally passionate about.
- Simon Renshaw, Director, Leicester and Leicestershire Teaching School Hub
When choosing a lead provider for the Early Career Training Programme, we took a close interest in Teach First’s long-standing track record of teacher development, particularly through ITT. We have found the quality of the curriculum, and the opportunity to contextualise it to meet local needs, most helpful.
- Marc Cooper, Director, Vantage Teaching School Hub
The vision of Teach First, to support and empower the most disadvantaged children, is realised through a research informed curriculum that is at the heart of all aspects of the programme.
- Ofsted inspection, January 2025
I wanted to be a mentor because just as I love seeing the progress of my pupils, I also love seeing the progress of the people I’m mentoring.
- Mikaela Dean, Lead Subject Mentor of MFL, Leicester and Leicestershire SCITT
What’s new in 2025
The programme now offers greater personalisation, flexibility and workload support for schools and teachers.
New features:
- a diagnostic tool to tailor learning
- personalised journeys with stretch and core content
- more collaborative seminar time
- an expanded video library with real teaching examples
These updates reflect our commitment to helping early career teachers succeed - with flexible, tailored support and practical tools.
Who can access this programme?
The programme is open to all state-funded schools in England and supports early career teachers, regardless of how they initially trained.
Designed with schools in disadvantaged communities in mind, it provides tailored training and support to help new teachers thrive and make a lasting impact.
Give your early career teachers the strongest possible start - with training that makes a real difference where it's needed most.
Ready to join?
Get expert support for your early career teachers, your mentors, and your school.